Attention Reader

This web page is a continuation of the documentary analysis of Captain James
Stewart's letters ca. 1815-1820,giving a thorough accounting of many of the Stewart families from
southern Perthshire of that era. If you have come here from outside this
website then you are advised to begin with
The Stewarts of the South: INTRODUCTION, which includes an
explanation of the document itself, and this analysis project, as well as an introduction to the
Stewarts of Balquhidder Research Web Site.

Dear Sir
After writing this narrative concerning the Stewarts of the South twice over I
believe it can be done now with some degree of accuracy and since you were so
anxious about it, please take the following account as authentic.

This is the initial principal branch of Ardvorlich up to Robert Stewart,
6th Laird of Ardvorlich.

James Beg of Baldorran in the parish of Campsie,
Stirlingshire, was predecessor of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, commonly called
Slioch Toigh Nellain from a fortified island in Lochvenacher, Callendar
Parish where James Beg usually resided and had different skirmishes with the
Campbells and came off with success. Those Campbells are said to be of the
family of Breadalbane which I think is not correct as the Breadalbane family had
no branches and but little power at that time.

The old Branch of the Ardvorlich family (and sometimes Macorriston) became extinct when the present Mr Stewart's father became heir
(i.e. Robert Stewart, 7th Laird of Ardvorlich). The last branch which you
may see in Duncan Stewart's History was Robert (6th Laird), a rude and
boisterous man. He died without issue.

Next, David, his (Robert's) brother, was a tenant in Glenfinglas (and
sometimes in Macorriston). He was Forrester to the Earl of Murray.
He was married to a daughter of Steward of Balled, widow of Campbell of
Lochdochard, by whom he had one son - who was a promising youth; he was slain at
the unfortunate battle of Culloden. David (also) had some natural
children.

His (David's) brother, Alexander, married Stewart the heiress
of Craigtown of the family of Annat. Craigtown is in Down [Doune] parish
now Earl of Murray's Estate. By the Heiress he had one son and some
daughters. The son was a lunatic but had the income of the estate during
his life. His sisters claimed the estate, but were rejected. There was
another child called William who died in England.

(This became the principal line of Ardvorlich with Robert
Stewart, 7th Laird of Ardvorlich.)

Robert Stewart Taxman of Balmenoch father to the present Mr
Stewart (believed to be William Stewart, 8th Laird of Ardvorlich, 1754-1838).
When he was born there was thirteen between him and the (Ardvorlich) estate.
It was with some difficulty he got the estate at all as he was not an active man
himself. This family were called the House of Balmenoch, of which farm
they had a wadset or feu, of which they were dispossessed in an unlawful way by
Robert of the first branch (6th Laird), a rude and unruly man.

The first of this branch was one William, an Uncle's son to
Major (James Beag) Stewart. He was called William MacAlastir.

On this point Capt. Stewart
appears to be mistaken. William MacAlastir was the brother of James Baeg Stewart, 2nd Laird of
Ardvorlich, not his cousin (i.e. "an uncle's son"). "MacAlastir" implies
that William's father's name was Alexander. James Baeg's father was
Alexander, 1st Laird of Ardvorlich. MacGregor and other sources show William MacAlastir
as the son of Alexander, the 1st Laird,
and brother of James Beag Stewart, 2nd
Ardvorlich.

The Major mentioned above was the bloody Major James Stewart
who killed Lord Kilpont. Ardvorlich is on the south side of Loch Earn
parish of Comrie County of Perth.

1st Line

a) William Stewart, Esquire (8th Laird of Ardvorlich), the
present proprietor, has four sons:

Robert

John

William

Anthony

2 line

a) John Stewart Tacksman of
Balmenoch of Do ( = "ditto" and refers to Ardvorlich), son of the late James Stewart, tenant of Ardvorlich,
uncle to Mr Stewart of [ditto] (i.e. William 8th of Ardvorlich immediately above). He had three sons who are all minors. Rent
£150. (John is the son of James Stewart, son of William Stewart, 3rd Balemenoch)

3 line

a) Robert Stewart, late tenant of
Ardvorlich, his son James Stewart is a gentleman farmer of Laggan, Strathyre,
Balquidder parish, on Buchanan of Cambusmore's estate. He (James) had
one son who is a minor and pays £260 of rent. This James Stewart is one
of the best managers of a farm of any in this country and keeps excellent
cattle - as to character, he as a man it surpasses that of the farmer for
generosity and humanity. Here the stranger finds hospitality and the
poor and needy shelter & relief. He is an ornament to his Clan in many
respects.

b) William, his (James') brother,
lives with him as a foreman. He (William) is a bachelor.

Duncan, brother to Major (James Beag) Stewart of Ardvorlich,
was a tacksman of Auchraig, Port of Monteith parish, which was then the property
of Ardvorlich.

Duncan had a son, Alexander, whose offspring are called
Sliochd Alastir Oaig ("children of young Alexander"). Their
descendants are as follows:

1 line

a) James Stewart, the lineal branch son to Donald Dubh,
late tacksman of Grodich, Glenfinglas, was a tacksman of Monbreachy, port
parish, [which is the] Duke of Montrose's estate, Ld (Lordship) of Monteith -
rent £250. He has four sons:

Donald, who is a wright in Callander and has three sons
who are all minors.

Alexander, who is a tacksman of Auchyle, Port parish.
He has four sons who are all minors. Rent £60

Archibald, who is a cow feeder in Glasgow. He has
three sons who are all minors.

Charles, a natural son, is a sawyer in Callendar. He has
four sons who are all minors. He is the most active of this family.

The above James was a very sensible man and imparted but
little of it to his family except to the natural son.

2 line

a) Duncan Stewart, was tacksman of Letter, Lochcathrineside,
in Callendar parish, which is the estate of Perth. He was brother to the
above James (Line 1a above). His sons are:

John Stewart, is a subtenant of Toighbaid, Barony of
Lendrick, Callander parish, which was once part of the Perth estate, but now
belongs to Sir Patrick Murray of Auchtertyre. John is a bachelor.

Donald, his brother, is a cottager in Milton of Aberfoil.
He has one son who is a minor.

David, who is a shepherd to his uncle James Stewart, has
one son who is a minor.

Charles Stewart, a natural son, is a lotter at Old
Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire. He has one son, who is a minor.

3 line

John Stewart late tacksman of Ruchoais, Buchanan parish,
Stirlingshire, which is the Duke of Montrose's property. Lochlomondside
called Craigrostain claimed once by Rob Roy Macgregor. His sons are:

David, a cottager in Aberfoil He has one son who
is a minor.

Walter Stewart, who is a gardener in Glasgow He
has three sons who are minors.

Charles, a journeyman gardener in Do ["ditto" = Glasgow]. He has two
sons who are minors.

4 line

Alexander Stewart, known by the name of Lord Glasgow at
Callander where he has some houses. He was once a grocer in Glasgow. He
is both ignorant and purse proud. He is son to James Stewart, late
tenant of Cuilanleogale in Callander parish on the Earl of Murray's estate.
He has no family. He is cousin to James Ban, a man of different turn of
mind.

4 line (sic. s/b 5 line)

(The letter repeats "4 line".)

Alexander Stewart son to Duncan Stewart late tenant of ?Drunky,
Port parish, Lordship of Menteith, now the property of Mr. Hunter in
Edinburgh. He (Alexander) is a grocer in Glasgow. He has

three sons in good circumstances; one of them is a student of Divinity.

5 line (sic. s/b 6 line)

James Stewart had an uncle Alexander Stewart, commonly
called Grudairgorrach. He (James or Alexander?) was a Lieutenant in
Colonel Stewart Invernenty's Regiment in the year 1745. He (James or
Alexander?) left one son

James
who has two sons, who are slate quarriers on the Isle of Bute. His two
sons are:

A mention shall be made often in the course of this narrative
of Glenfinglas. Before I proceed further I shall lay before
you a part of the history thereof.
I think it was about the year 1535 or 6 that James Stewart
of Beith or Lord Doun (sic - it was the son of this James Stewart who became
Lord Doune) first got possession of this glen
as Steward of Menteith - but before that time it was
occupied by a numerous family or tribe of Clan Resans.
But that tribe were almost lost except some old men and
children in crossing the hill from Glenfinglas to an adjacent part of the parish of Callander with a
burial in winter
by coming unawares upon a small lake where the ice
gave way and they were all drowned.

The MacGregors who were always ready to seize opportunities came and forced the remains of the Clan from the
glen and became possessors themselves. After the restoration of Charles II, Major
(James Beag) Stewart, who was under the
necessity of absconding for killing Lord Kilpont (sic - see below) and other crimes,
undertook for the Earl Murray to drive the MacGregors
out of the glen as they would neither pay rent and committed some acts of riot.
For this action the Earl procured
pardon for the Major - this he executed together with one
John Dubh Beg of [the] Glenbuckie family of Leadchrich.
The rest of his party deserted [and] he took the leader of the MacGregors
alive and carried him to Doune castle where he was executed. His name was Donach Oar
(MacGregor). For this action the Major
got a tack of Glenfinglas from Lord Doune: one-fourth of which he give to the Glenbuckie family, one-fourth to Gartnafuaran
and reserved one half for himself. The family of Annat
began to grumble -- a branch of his own family to whom he
give one fourth of his own half and each party did subsist
as most convenient to their own friends and others. Sometimes they did not agree better than strangers,
which is often the misfortune of society.

Concerning the date of the Clearing of Glenfinglas -- The author claims
that the Clearing of the Glen took place after Ardvorlich murdered Kilpont and
that for his act of clearing the Glen, Ardvorlich received lands in
Glenfinglas as well as a pardon for the murder. However this is
chronologically impossible for a number of reasons. The murder of
Kilpont took place at the Battle of Tibbermuir in 1644. And the Major is
documented as having received his pardon because he abandoned Montrose's side
and joined up with Argyll on the victorious Government side. Thus his
"murder" of Kilpont was later deemed a patriotic act of war, rather than the
hot-blooded murder that it really was. He did not receive his pardon for
clearing Glenfinglas of the MacGregors. As the occupants of the eight
portions of Glenfinglas are shown in Glenfinglas prior to 1644 then it is
impossible for the Clearing of the Glen to have taken place after that.

Secondly, Iain Dubh Beag Stewart of the Glenbuckie family, who assisted
Ardvorlich in clearing Glenfinglas, is recorded as being "of the Ledcreich
family" at the time. Either the author of SOS is mistaken about his
family connection, or, more likely, the Clearing of the Glen took place prior
to the Glenbuckie brothers, Duncan and Patrick Stewart, exchanging their lands
of Ledcreich and Glenbuckie with each other. This exchange of lands
certainly took place long before 1644.

A bond in 1622 (shown on the Glenfinglas page) lists the heads of the
Balquhidder families, including Iain Dubh in Glenfinglas. Thus the
Clearing of the Glen must have taken place prior to 1622.

Duncan Oag of Ardvorlich, commonly called
"Letter
Stewart", tacksman of Letter and Auchraig, then belonging to Ardvorlich, in Port
[of Menteith] Parish.

This branch is descended from the same patriarch as Branch III above,
however we have not been able to connect this branch as yet.

1 line

The first line of his descendants I think is:

It is important to note that Captain Stewart is
uncertain of this branch.

1. Duncan Stewart. (The reference below indicates that
this line is descended from Duncan Stewart, once tacksman of Radnaik
-- who is NOT the same person as Duncan Oag, patriarch of Branch IV.
Duncan is the brother of Donald
Stewart, late tacksman of Auchmore, patriarch of line 2, below.)

a)
James Stewart, tacksman of Easter & Wester Ward,
Kincardine parish, on the Blair Drummond estate, is a gentleman farmer and bachelor.
He is son of
Duncan Stewart, once tacksman of Radnaik, Port parish General Graham of Bogtown - £350 rent.

b) John Stewart, his brother, a farmer in Redhaugh [which is] Touch's
estate, which now belongs to Murray of Polmaize, Stirlingshire. His sons:

An officer in the 42nd Regiment of Foot.

An officer in another regiment.

A surgeon and physician.

A writer

Another 2 or 3 at home who are minors.

2 line

1. Donald Stewart. (The reference below indicates that this
line is descended from Donald
Stewart, late tacksman of Auchmore. Donald is the brother of Duncan,
patriarch of line 1, above -- who is NOT the same person as Duncan Oag,
patriarch of Branch IV.)

a) John Stewart, a spirit dealer in Glasgow, is son to Donald
Stewart, late tacksman of Auchmore, Port parish. He has
two sons:

A spirit dealer

A cloth merchant

b)
Alexander Stewart, his (John's) brother, is a cotton manufacturer. He has
two sons, same line, in Glasgow, well doing.

2.
James Stewart, brother to the above Duncan & Donald, tacksman in ?Tinich, on
the estate of Radnaick, Port parish. His sons:

John Stewart, tacksman and maltman in the parish
of Kippen, on the estate of Gartmore, Stirlingshire. He has 4 sons who are minors.

James Stewart of Thornhill, on Blair Drummond's estate,
Down parish. He has four sons who are minors.

The Tulloch Stewarts, on Sir John Murray's estate at Balquidder,
are
brothers to the Flints. Toun Drummadich bought by Sir John (Murray?)
from the Perth family is said to belong in ancient times to a
family of the name of Ross, [although] I cant say whither of Kinfauns or Craigie
near Perth.

1 line

1. John Stewart at Alloa, who is in the employment of
the Steens of Kilbeagie, was son to the deceased Dougald
Stewart, late tacksman of Tulloch. John has no sons.

2. John Stewart, his nephew, is a shepherd at Tulloch. He has
one son who is
a minor. John was son to Duncan Stewart, a late tacksman at
Ledchrich, Braes of Balquhidder.

3. Duncan Stewart, his brother, who is a shoemaker in Campsie.

4. James Stewart, their brother, has gone to America.

2 line

John Stewart, late tenant of Tulloch, Balquhidder, left two sons:

The one is a soldier.

The other is a bleacher in Campsie.

Both of them have a family of sons.

(The relationship between John Stewart above and the next
three listings is not indicated in the original letter.)

1 James Stewart, late tenant of Wester Invernenty,
Braes of Balquhidder, on the estate of the late Reverend Mr Stewart, had
four sons who are all undertakers of road and other works
about Glasgow.

2 Peter Stewart in Gartmore Parish has four sons who are minors.VIII

3 James Stewart, brother to Dougald Stewart of
Tulloch (Line 1 above), Balquhidder, left three sons who are all in Glasgow
in the Manufacturing line and all of them
in good circumstances.

3 line

1. Robert Stewart left one son, John, a shoemaker in Callandar.

2. Duncan Stewart, late tacksman of Clachglass,
Glenbuckie, left two sons.

David Stewart, Moss laird, Summerline flanders moss.
He has
three sons, all at home.

Duncan Stewart, of Kirkline Flanders Moss, has
four sons who are labourers about himself.

The moss is a part
of Blair Drummond estate, Kinkardine parish.
This Moss is among the greatest curiosities of Scotland. It is part of the ancient estate of Drummond,
gotten by the Heiress of Stobhall.

It is believed that this branch is also known as the
Stewarts of Lednascridan. It is believed that Leadsgriachan
= Lednascridan. The Stewarts of Lednascridan were a branch of the
Ardvorlichs. They were descended from Patrick Stewart, half-brother of
Alexander Stewart of Ardvorlich, son of James Stewart in Balquhidder. Patrick Stewart
is said to have acquired the lands of Lednascridan around 1533, however the line between Patrick Stewart and those
listed below is unknown.

Sliochd Sheumais Chrosts or Clachtein not improperly
so called. (Chrosts is not a known Gaelic word, but may be a corruption
of chrosda, which means "bad tempered", and may explain the comment "not
improperly so called". Clachtein is believed to mean "of the stones".) They were named Flints from the white stones on the Farm
of Leadsgriachan, Balquhidder, possessed by them for many generations as tenants
-- a part of Toun Drummadich, now belonging to Sir John Murray.

1 line

John Stewart, tacksman Fenglam, Ardvorlich, Comrie parish,
son to Peter Stewart, late tacksman of Leadsgriadan. He has four
sons who are all minors. One of them is a student intended for the
Church of Scotland. John is a well doing farmer. Rent £160

2 line

John Stewart, tacksman at Tulloch. He is a cousin to the above
John Stewart. His father Robert was a farmer at Leadsgriadan. He has
three sons who are minors. Rent £90.

James, his (John's) brother, is a tacksman of one-half of Tulloch.
He has
no sons and pays £90

Both Flints in reality. (That is, although they lived in Tulloch,
they were not Tulloch Stewarts; they were Flints, really.)

3 line

John Stewart at Kirktown of Balquhidder, son to Duncan, late of Tulloch,
has
no family.

4 line

Robert Stewart Cruaidh or "hard" (cruaidh means "hard"), late of Stronyie of
Strathyre, Balquhidder, on the estate of Cambusmore. He left three sons:

John Stewart, a cottager at Keip of Strathyre, Bn (Buchanan's) estate,
is
a bachelor with his mother.

Duncan Stewart, a labourer who has 2 sons,
one of whom is a minor.

James Stewart is a colleague at Woodend, Balquhidder.
He has
four sons who are minors. James is called "Earl of Kinoul".

5 line

Robert Stewart, late tenant of Blarchroich, Braes of Balquhidder,
estate of the late Rev Duncan Stewart, Balquhidder, left eight sons:

Robert Stewart, late tacksman of Inverchearnaig, Braes
of Balquhidder, Earl of Murray's estate, left one son:

James, a cow-feeder in Glasgow. James
has two sons who are minors

Duncan Stewart, late tacksman of Drumlich, Braes
of Balquhidder, Earl of Murray's estate, left two sons:

David

Duncan
Both are manufacturers in Glasgow. They each have
two sons, each minors. They are in a prosperous
and good way.

John Stewart, or Iain Mor a Bhuntata ("Big John of the Potatoes"), late tenant
in Dailanlagain of Glenbuckie, Balquhidder. He
left one son:

Alexander is a spirit dealer [at the] foot of Cannongate,
Edinburgh, and is doing well. He has two sons who are minors.

Peter Stewart, a tacksman of Blartannach, parish
of Campsie, Stirlingshire, estate of ?Craigcarnet. He is
a gentleman farmer and a clever, active, sociable man who
pays £350 per annum. He has three sons:

A gentleman cattle dealer.

Has gone to America.

A writer in Glasgow.

Alexander Stewart, late tenant at Monachilltuarach,
Braes of Balquhidder, on the estate of Captain Stewart of Glenbuckie. He
left two sons:

Robert, a flesher in Glasgow.

Malcolm, a cattle dealer in [Glasgow].
Both are unmarried, with good behaviour, and are well-meaning and well-doing lads.

Donald Stewart, a flesher in Renfrew, died without issue.

David, a late tenant of Balmenoch, Glenbuckie, Balquhidder,
is
now in Paisley. He has two sons:

A flesher.

A carrier in Glasgow.
Both have families.

6 line

John Stewart, late tacksman at Duard (Duart), Glenfinglas. He
is now
a moss laird in good circumstances. He has one son:

A brewer
and innkeeper in Stirling in a good way. He has three or four sons.

Called Sliochd Iain Duibh mhor ("children of big
black John"), a natural son of Major James Beag Stewart of
Ardvorlich. This John was a rude and boisterous man and held Dalveich,
Loch Earnside, parish of Balquhidder at that time belonging to the Marquis of
Atholle, and now belongs to the Breadalbanes. John had this farm by
wadset. His descendants are:

1st Line

Alexander Stewart - a feuer in Thornhill village,
Doune parish (just west of the village of Doune). Alexander has four (adult) sons.
They are:

Alexander Stewart, a wright in Callander who has

one minor son.

Duncan Stewart, a journeyman wright.

James Stewart, a journeyman wright.

Daniel Stewart, who is living with his father. Daniel has

one son, a minor.

2nd Line

Donald Stewart - a feuer in Greeloaning, Dunblane
parish, is now living in Upper Canada, America (present-day Ontario,
Canada). He has four sons who are all minors.

John Stewart, brother of Donald Stewart, is a gardener and
land surveyor in
London, and is in respectable circumstances.

3rd Line

Donald Stewart - late tacksman in Ardveich, Loch Earnside,
in Comrie parish, on the Drummond's estate. ("Late" would indicate that he had
recently died by ca. 1815). He had three sons, and they are:

John Stewart, a tacksman at Keip (the original
transcriber indicates this word is illegible) of Strathyre in Balquhidder,
on Buchanan
of Cambusmore's estate. He has five sons: two adults and three
under age.

Alexander Stewart - a moss lord in Flanders Moss at
Summerline. He has two sons who are minors.

Robert Stewart - a shepherd to Captain Stewart of
Glenbuckie. He is living at Kintyre, a minor. (It's not clear whether
Robert Stewart, the shepherd, was a minor, or if he had one son who was a
minor.)

Robert Stewart - who was once the innkeeper at Loch Earnhead
(and has presumably died by ca. 1815) left
two sons [who are(?)] tacksmen of Ruinacraig, Strathyre, in Balquhidder on
Cambusmore's estate. They are:

Duncan Stewart, who has one son who is a minor

Robert Stewart, his brother, who is a bachelor and pays rent £160

4th Line

Daniel Stewart - was once a tacksman in Walbeich (and is
presumably dead in ca. 1815). He
left four sons:

John Stewart, a tacksman at Gartnafuaran, which was once
the property of Stewart of Don in Balquhidder parish, but is now
Sir John McGregor's estate. He has three sons -- one adult and two minors.

Duncan Stewart, of Summerline flanders Moss. He
has
two sons -- one adult who is a smith and the other who is a minor

Lieutenant Alexander Stewart, of the P Militia, who is now a feuer
in
St Fillans, Comrie parish, on Drummond's estate. He has
two sons -- one who is a student of Divinity and the other who is a minor
by a second marriage.

Donald Stewart of Summerline flanders Moss. He
left one son (presumably an adult son). (Donald Stewart is presumably dead
by ca. 1815).

5th Line

James Stewart, otherwise known as Sheumas Ross (Sheumas is
Gaelic for James, so his English name would be James Ross Stewart, Ross is
often a nickname form of Robertson, thus James' father may have been named
Robert) - late tenant
at
Ardveich, Loch Earnside, on Drummond's estate. (Presumably he died by ca. 1815.)
He left two sons, and they are:

James Stewart, who is a tenant of Stronvar in
Balquhidder parish, on Captain [Duncan[ Stewart [of Glenbuckie]'s estate. He has two sons who
are both minors. His rent is £60.
Stronvar once belonged to Captain Fergusson of [ditto (Stronvar)]
and to the present Provost Fergusson in Cupar,
Fifeshire, who sold it to Capt [Duncan] Stewart [of Glenbuckie]. Although I am
sorry to say the seller is better than the buyer.

Robert Stewart, who was once a foreman to Mr (William)
Stewart (8th Laird) of Ardvorlich. He is now working in the same capacity
with one Mr Rob at Menstrie in Blairlogie parish on
Sir Ralph Abercrombie's estate in Stirlingshire. He has two sons
(presumably adult sons).

(As this
Robert worked as a foreman for Ardvorlich, it's quite possible that he was
the descendant of John Dhu Mohr who carried the story of the "authentic"
version of the murder of Kilpont.)

6th Line

Alexander Stewart - a tacksman at Ardveich in Comrie
Balquhidder parish. He
left four sons. (It is presumed that Alexander is dead in ca. 1815.)
His sons are:

Robert Stewart, a soldier in the 79th Regiment. He
has a family of sons (presumably adult sons).

A son of unknown name who is
now in training with the
Artillery

A second son of unknown name who is
also training with the Artillery.

James Stewart, who
is a lotter (buyer and seller of wool) at Coilmore on Ardvorlich's estate.

7th Line

Alexander Stewart, who is a tacksman in Dalveich,
Balquhidder parish on
Breadalbane's estate. He has three sons -- one adult and two under age.

Robert Stewart - a feuer in St Fillans, Comrie parish, on
Drummond's estate. He has
three or four sons under age.

Alexander Stewart of Annat sold
the estate to David Stewart of Balchallan excepting
one farm and some Feues, which are now the property of Sir John McGregor.
After the death of worthy Balchallan, which is said
to have happen by poison, the most part of his estate of Balchallan was sold
to Mr Buchanan of Cambusmor - being contiguous to his
own. And the estate of Annat was bought by Lord Down (Doune)
as it was lying in the midst of his own estate, except for
the farm mentioned above, which was bought by Sir John McGregor --
a very cheap purchase. Balchallan and Annat are in
Down (Doune) parish. Besides the estate of Annat, he had
a tack one fourth Glenfinglas, which he did sublet from
the family of Perth, [and he] had a tack of two Portnellans, Lochvenacherside, Callander parish, purchased by the late
Earl of Murray from the Perth family. He had a tack
of the farm of Offrans and Duncragan bought lately
by Sir Patrick Murray of Auchtertyre from the Perth family and had good profit of them.

It is said the first of Annat Family was
a bastard of the Ardvorlich family (although
Duncan Stewart does not mention it) and that
he purchased the estate of Annat from
Misset of Burnbank with some money
gotten by his mother from some of the Argyll family for hiding them. Whither it
was by their marriages or their own activity or through other circumstances is
uncertain, but they rose higher than any other branch of their father's race
from Ardvorlich. The last of them was a great drunkard, but was very
mindful of his two sisters to see them in Stirling for they were much supported
by Gen (General) Stewart of Boblack
and by the profits of a tack they had of the farm of Offrans of the forfeited estate of Perth,
now Sir Patrick Murray's property.

1 Line

As far as I can understand, one Mr James (possible error -- his name may
actually be John) Stewart, a merchant in Down (Doune) and proprietor
of some houses there, is the lineal descendant
of Annat. He has three sons in the mercantile line
in Glasgow.
His father was uncle to the present Ardvorlich
by the mother's side (Margaret Stewart, who married Robert Stewart, 7th
Ardvorlich).

2 line

Archibald Stewart in Noriston, near Thornhill.
Noriston was part of the estate of Nori, Down parish. Nori, once a great name in that
country is now almost extinct except a few
about Carron water. Noristown, a purchase of Earl of Murray.

Archibald's son lives at
Kinross in middling circumstances. He deals
much in horses and has a family of sons.

3 line

James (sic, s/b Alexander) Stewart, tacksman of Boblack
Carse of Frews, Down parish, Earl's
estate, was drowned upon the water of Teith. (sic - OPR records confirm
that the father of General Robert Stuart of Rait was Alexander Stewart of
Powblack in Frew, not James. Thus it is not certain whether it was
Alexander who drowned in Teith or whether it was an unknown James Stewart who
has been confused.)

He left two sons:

Commissioner Stewart, who was
in Stirling. He left one son who sold the little
property left him by his grandfather's mother
to his uncle Gen (General) Robt Stewart of Boblack (below).
He now lives between Edinburgh and Falkirk. He has some family.

Gen (General) Robert Stewart of Reath,
of the Honorable East India Company, has three sons of whom you know
something yourself.

4 line

1. Donald Stewart, son to Archibald Stewart, tacksman of Lendrick, a purchase of Sir Patrick Murray
from Perth family, Callander parish, has one son and pays
£330 of rent.

2.
Hugh Stewart, uncle to the foregoing Donald
Stewart, tacksman of the Carse of Camus,
near Down (Doune) Lodge, Earl's estate. Rent £100. He
left five sons:

a. James, a tenant there with one son.

b. John, a merchant vintner and farmer in the village of Kippen, Stirlingshire.
He has four sons:

1-4.
One of them is a surgeon in Glasgow, and
the rest are at home - not this
one, a writer, the third is a merchant in Glasgow, and
the fourth at home. (It is uncertain what the author means by "the rest
are at home" as the third son is in Glasgow, not at home.)

c. Alexander Stewart, a merchant in Glasgow with one son.

d. Hugh Stewart, a wright in Glasgow with sons,
but I am not certain of their number.

e. Archibald, a wright in Stirling, with a family
of sons, but of their number I am not certain.

Researchers of this family are cautioned
that there appears to be a confusion in the accounting of this family.
The indexing of this family in the original transcription simply makes no
sense at all. It appears that the original author used a nested set
of sub-lines here without clearly distinguishing them in the text.
This has been compounded by the fact that it appears that "2" and "5" have
been mis-transcribed. The accounting of nested lines below is our own edit
to try to make better sense of the original. Fortunately, this
family has now been mostly accounted for on the
Stewarts of Glenfinglaspage.

John Stewart of Annat had a natural
son called Iain Buigh mor. He give him
a farm in Glenfinglas. His descendants
are now called Bains.

1 line

John Bain Mor, late tenant at Auchnahard,
Glenfinglas, left five sons:

(1 Line)

James Stewart, late Tacksman Inverchearnaig, Braes of Balquhidder,
Earl of Murray's estate. He left one son...

(At this point their appears to be text missing in the original
transcription or possibly in the original document, as the subsequent sentences
do not follow from the previous.)

...of a numerous family, but left one son whose name is...

...(1) line

Alexander Stewart of Auchnahaurd, Glenfinglas, one-eighth part of [Glenfinglas], married to Donald Stewart's
sister at Auch [in] Glenurchay. He had five sons who are all minors.

2 line

John Stewart, late tenant at Auchnahaird, left
one son, called "John Tacksman of Grodlick" [Grodich]. One-eighth of Glenfinglas. He
has one son who is a minor.

3 line

Mr Alexander Stewart, late Bailie in Glasgow, had no sons.

4 line

Robert Stewart at Auchnahard, one-eighth part
of Glenfinglas. He has two sons:

John, a tacksman of Milton & Blargavred (Blairgarry),
Callander parish, on the Earl of Murray's estate. He is
an active young man with two sons who are minors. £250 annual rent.

This son is with his father.

(5 line)

5Duncan Stewart [a] Tacksman [in] Auchnahard.
One-eighth part of Glenfinglas. He has five sons:

1st John Tacksman of Cuilanteogal & Tarnduin,
Callander parish, Earl of Murray's estate. Rent £175.
Tarnduin was bought from the Perth family. John is a bachelor.

2d son James is a clark in London.

3 Alexander is with his father at Glenfinglas.

4 Robert is with Do (= "ditto" = with his father at Glenfinglas).

5 Peter is with his father. He is a minor.

He (Duncan Stewart?) has other farms beside Glenfinglas.

5 line (sic - s/b 2 line?)

(The original shows "5 Line" here, but I suspect the 5 is a transcription
error for 2.)

The "one Walter, cousin to Doal Ban Mor, tacksman in Ardvorlich"
is a transcription error. "Doal" should be "John". Thus it is
Walter who is a cousin to John Ban Mor (above) and Walter was also a tacksman
at Ardvorlich (confirmed by Comrie OPR, showing Walter residing and "Dunan" on
the Ardvorlich estate.

There was one Walter, cousin to Doal (sic, "John") Ban Mor, tacksman in
Ardvorlich, who left four sons:

1. William Stewart, schoolmaster at Summerline
Flanders Moss, who has three sons:

A merchant in Hamburgh. (Germany?)

A clark in Glasgow.

An assistant to his father at Summerline.

2. His second son is in Lord
Down's (Doune's) work. He has four sons:

the oldest [are] Massons

(not mentioned but the plural preceding would imply that the second
son was also a mason)

the third a wright

the four is a servant man

3 line

It is unclear from the original whether "3 Line" is a new descendant
line altogether or if it represents the 3rd (and 4th) sons of Walter Stewart
in Ardvorlich.

Alexander Stewart at Crochavie, Aberfoil parish, under the
Lordship of Monteith, now belonging to the Duke of Montrose. Alexander has one son:

Charles.

There was one Duncan Stewart Brother to.... (Again, text
seems to be missing here in the original document. Possibly he is the fourth son
of Walter, above.)

4 line

Alexander Stewart, late farmer at Auchlow (Auchtow), Balquhidder,
on
Sir John Murray's estate. He is now at Callander with

four sons who are minors.

5 line

Again, the accounting in the original is confusing. The reference
below to "brother to the above Walter" could refer to the preceding Walter of
4 Line. Or, if one nests 3 Line and 4 Line above, then it could be that
"the above Walter" is actually a reference to Walter of 2 Line further above.

John Stewart, brother to the above Walter, at Burn
of Camus, Down lodge. He left one son:

1 Line

1. David of Balchallan, said to be a keen grasping man
closely attached to the world and not much
to friendship, died without issue. He left his estate to
James, his brother's son.

The original lacks any punctuation here and thus can be read in several
ways. The original reads as follows: "[He] left his estate to
James his brothers son George Married first a daughter...". The
punctuation and interpretation presented above and below are my own best guess.

2. George married first a
daughter of Murray of Polmaize who died without
issue. His second marriage was to the Heiress of Auchenbuy,
a relation to Dr Munro of Edinburgh. He left one daughter
who married Benny Munro. Munro married again to
a daughter of the late worthy president Blair.
As far as I can learn this James of Balchallan, although
born in America, was one of the most friendly and
generous gentleman of the name of Stewart of the Ardvorlich descendants and had the means to
support his generosity. He left three brothers. The oldest of them came home and was claiming the
estate of Balchallan, but was rejected.
Another of them was married to a niece of the celebrated and gallant Gen
Washington. (Probably THE "General
Washington", noting the references to Maryland, USA and the time of this
letter.)

2 line

James Stewart, Commissary of Kinross, had two sons:

The oldest of them was a writer who died at home.

The second of them was a Captain to the Honorable East India Company.
He died
in jail, being taken prisoner by Hyder Ali.

The last David of Balchallan, being a cunning and subtle
man, made an attempt to swindle the present Mr
Stewart's father out of the estate of Ardvorlich,
who was but a simple man and of little experience. Before Robert Stewart
(7th Ardvorlich) was well-settled in the estate, David of Balchallan offered to pay Robert's debt and some money
to himself besides and to leave him the estate if he (David) died
without children. Of which offer Robert would have accepted if had not
been
persuaded from it by his own wife and his brother James.
The estate of Balchallan was the most considerable
of any that the Stewarts had in this country:

1st besides the Old estate of Balchallan, now the
property of Major Buchanan of Cambusmore, pay
about £450 of rent in Down parish.

2nd Wester Brackland in Callander parish not sold £300
bought by Balchallan from the Shaws of Cambusmor.

The Gartnafuaran family sometimes claims the
seniority which I think is unjust as Ardvorlich
had a good property and was long in possession which
gives them the apparent reality of being the Stem.

1 Ardvorlich estate about £600 per annum.

2 They had MacCurrastan in Monteith, Down parish, which is now
the Earl of Murray's property. A part of the staircase is still remaining as
well as the orchard. A
family
of the name of MacCurrastan resided here and the family of Ardvorlich
occasionally. This part was sold by the late Robert of Ardvorlich's father to Hume of Argadie, to whom David
Stewart of
Balchallan was heir. David Stewart of Ballachallan, in turn, sold it to Lord Doun, which he
much regretted afterwards. It lies adjacent to the Carse of
Frews, a large property of the Earl of Murray - rent £200

3 Auchraig & Letter Do, which are at present Benny Munrow's property
sold by the late Robert's father to a family of the name of
Stirling, who sold it again to one McFarlane, from whom the
late David of Balchallan swindled it. £300 rent. Although they were his sister's children it was once a grazing place
to the Ardvorlich family.

4 Wester Town of Argadie sold by the late Robert's father to
the present Lord Down's great-grandfather. £150 of rent.

5 Tombeath near The Anie (Strathyre south), Callander parish, now sold by the family of Drummond to Stirling of Kier

6 Druimardoch, Braes of Lenny, now Buchanan of Lennys,
bought from Drummond of Perth

7 Stroineadragain Brealenny sold by the late Robert's
father to the Perth family. The whole £350 of rent.

8 Tommferrain in Munivaird parish, now belonging to Lord Balgray.
Once belonging to Riddoch, proprietors of a great part of
Strathearn. This farm was sold rather in a compulsive way
by Major Stewart's son (Robert Stewart, 3rd Ardvorlich) to Campbell of Lawirs as they
were in great power at that time. Lawirs or Ardle or
Fordie once belonged to Riddoch before the Campbells got
it.

Besides the above mentioned, the Ardvorlich family had the lucrative tack of one-fourth of Glenfinglas
and other tacks from the family of Perth.

The late Robert
intended to sell Ardvorlich itself, and would actually have sold it if it were not for an advice given by Rob Roy
McGregor - famed for good as well as bad actions
when he was driven from Callandar and Balquhidder for his pranks
upon the Duke of Montrose. He was a fugitive at Auch
Glenurchay. Robert of Ardvorlich lodged a night with
him when he was going to sell Ardvorlich to Stewart of
Appin. Rob Roy advised him to keep Feuer of
Ardvurlich and that the Feu should keep him.

This finishes Ardvorlich's family as far as I can know,
excepting a family in Campsie who says they are of Ardvorlich. One of them, John Stewart at Kirkton of
Campsie says his grandfather Duncan Stewart
came from Glenfinglas. He had twelve sons. I know
some of them scattered through that country. There is
one of them, a servant to Peter Stewart of Blartomach, who is
not of the first rate. He has some brothers through that
country. Perhaps the present Mr Stewart (William Stewart, 8th Ardvorlich) could
give a more accurate account, as few gentlemen can
be better versed in the history of his own clan and country, together with other branches of history.
It is a pity, but
he should commit a part to paper ere he should slip
the cable and leave a part to posterity. But he
is not acceptable to any but such as he counts his
equals and superiors. Perhaps flatterers and sycophants
might draw something from him.

The Stewarts of the South, in a later section of the document, also gives a
parish by parish accounting of many of the residents of southern Perthshire.
Sometimes this second account can be reconciled to the earlier account given
by family, and in other places it cannot be reconciled. I have presented here
only an extract of that section as it pertains to those persons listed as
being of the Ardvorlich family. If you wish to see the complete list
please refer to the original document at the link given above.

Callander Parish

No 7 John Stewart
of Grodich in Glenfinglass of the
Annat and Ardvorlich family £105
same property where I have seen four tenants of the
name of Stewart. A respectable character.

No 9 Mr Duncan Stewart
in Auchnahard, ditto, of the Annat
and Ardvorlich family. A worldly character -
turned out to be so in reality since having turned
out Walter Stewart - £105 Murray property

No 10 Mr Robert Stewart
in Auchnahard, ditto, of the same
family and the same character £105

No 11 Mr Alex
Stewart, ditto, married to a daughter of Stewart of Auchnahard's sister
of the same family and but for a spark in his throat
which cannot be quenched the most sensible
of the whole £105

No 15 Mr Donald Stewart,
tenant of Lanrick and
Duncraggan of the family of Annat and Ardvorlich
with the mark of Robert Reid. [He is]
a respectable character £330 Sir Patrick Murrays Estate

No 16 Mr John Stewart
of Milton & Blairgarvie [who is the] son of Robert Stewart in Auchnahard of the family of Annat and
Ardvorlich a decent Character £255
where I have seen Eight tenants.
Earl of Murray's property.

No 17 Mr John Stewart,
tenant of Cuilanteogle and
Taranduin, son of Duncan Stewart of Auchnahard of
the Ardvorlich and Annat family. A keen worldly character - sell of late - £220.
I saw four Tenants all Stewarts in the above,
the Earl of Murray's property

Parish of Balquhidder

No 2 Mr John
Stewart of Kip in
Strathyre, of the
Ardvorlich family and having got an addition
to his farm since I wrote you before
an industrious sober well doing man £75.
Buchanan of Auchleskie's property.

No 6 Mr John Stewart
of Wester Dalveich of the Ardvorlich
family an industrious man £40
Breadalbane's estate.

No 10 Mr John Stewart,
tenant at Gartnafuaran
of the Ardvorlich family
and industrious char £70.
Sir John McG-Murray's property

No 11 Mr James Stewart,
tenant at Stronvar,
of the Ardvorlich family
an industrious clannish char £60.
Capt Stewart of Glenbuckie's property

No 15 Mr John & James
Stewart, tenants in
Tullich, and two brothers of the Ardvorlich family - of the Flint Stewarts £160.
Sir John McG's property I have seen double the number of tenants

Port of Menteith

No 1 Mr James Stewart,
tacksman of Monvrechy, of the Ardvorlich family. A decent, respectable
and honourable character,
but has kept all his activity to himself except one
natural son. £250 Duke of Montrose's property

No 2 Mr Alexander Stewart, son
of #1 James Stewart of Monvrechy, tenant
in Auchyle, of the Ardvorlich family.
Very inferior to his father in point activity
and prudence and a sottish coof(?) £60
Duke of Montrose's property

No 12 Mr John Stewart Tenant & Ward of ?goode
of the Ardvorlich family. A careful industrious character. £150.
Erskine of Cardross' property.

Kincardine Parish

No 1 John Stewart of
Easter & Wester Westwood of the Ardvorlich family. A real low country man, but pretends to some clanship.
Blair Drummond Estate £350

No 3 Alexander Stewart,
a mason at Summerline
Flander's Moss, of the Ardvorlich family. Sober.

No
4 David Stewart, a tailor at Summerline Flander's Moss, of the Ardvorlich
family. Sober and Industrious.

No 9 William Stewart,
a schoolmaster at Summerline Flander's Moss, of the
Ardvorlich and Annat family. Sober.

No 10 Duncan
Stewart, of Summerline Flander's Moss, of the Ardvorlich
family. An industrious character.

No
11 Widow of Donald Stewart with her son,
of the Ardvorlich family. Donald was a good-hearted friendly man.

No
12 John Stewart, of Roseline Flander's Moss, of
the Ardvorlich family. A keen honest man
and of more substance than any of the rest.

No 13 John Stewart, Kirk-line Blair Drummond,
at Roseline Flander's Moss,
of the Ardvorlich family. Industrious and
mean.

No 17 John Stewart,
a taxman (or tacksman?) at Cowie in St Ninian's
parish. Ardvorlich family. A respectable decent
gentleman farmer as much to be respected as any
of the Ardvorlich family (and capable to be so a decent family).
Polmaise Estate £250

No
18 Peter Stewart, tacksman of Blartamoch in
Campsie parish, Stirlingshire. Been shrewd, sly, and sensible.
He is of the Ardvorlich family in
Stirling of Craigbarnets Estate £270

No
20 John Stewart, town of Kippen, a publican
merchant, and a sinner of the Ardvorlich & Annat
family. Graham of Gartmore Estate £32

Comrie Parish

No 1. Alex Stewart,
a crofter at Wood of Ardvorlich,
and of the Ardvorlich family. An industrious peaceable quiet man. Ardvorlich Property £10

No
2. John Stewart at Balemeanoch, of the Ardvorlich
family and property. A decent friendly good
man but more innocent than active. £150.
Ardvorlich has given him a charge of removal
this year to his great shame. His father, being
the occasion of keeping the estate to them,
being a more active man than Ardvorlich's
father, and this is the reward of his great service! Ardvorlich, like many great men
of the world, has got his good character very cheap
and as other that get a bad character undeserved, for if he is once injured he knows not how
to forgive and forget. Certainly Ardvorlich is an
honest man but that cannot secure him from
censure on that account, for Justice, Mercy and Charity ought to go hand in hand.
Without which
no other accomplishment can constitute a good
man for we have from Scripture: do justice,
love mercy, and walk humbly before thy God (Malachi).
I have no business to interfere in this or to
depreciate his character further than to tell
my opinion of him -- every man being allowed to
judge for himself if they don't interfere with state affairs.

No
3 James Stewart, of Coille Mhor Ardvorlich, of the Ardvorlich family. An industrious sober character.
Ardvorlich property £10

No 4 John Stewart,
tenant at Easter Finglen, of
the Ardvorlich family. An industrious, keen, well-doing farmer.
Ardvorlich estate £160

No
5 Lieutenant Alex Stewart of the Perthshire Militia, a proprietor of houses,
and a tenant to Drummond
Burrel at St Fillans, at the east end of Loch Earn. One of your
home spun gentlemen, but shrewd sly and sensible
for himself, always homeward bound.

No
6 Robert Stewart, of St. Fillans, of the Ardvorlich
family. An industrious and well-doing man.

No 24 Donald Stewart, son
of James Stewart in
Callander, a proprietor of a 20 pound a year. Once of the
Ardvorlich family. Very inferior to his father.

I am told Ardvorlich
your friend had once
twenty tenants and twenty cottars on his property and now has only one - the reason I cannot pretend to know. He has now only six cottars.
I mentioned to you before, the havoc that was
done by Burrel Drummond on the North side
of Lochearn. Some McLarens there were dispossessed of their land whose ancestors had been in that place
for upwards of 400 years.